What are the most effective drought tolerance strategies for crops?

1 Genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is the process of introducing foreign genes or modifying existing genes in a plant's genome, using biotechnology tools such as recombinant DNA, gene transfer, and gene editing. Genetic engineering can improve the drought tolerance of crops by enhancing the expression or function of genes related to water uptake, transport, retention, and use. For example, some crops have been engineered to overexpress genes that encode for aquaporins, which are proteins that facilitate water movement across cell membranes. Other crops have been engineered to modify genes that regulate the stomatal aperture, which is the opening and closing of pores on the leaf surface that control gas exchange and water loss.

3 Gene editing

Gene editing is the process of making precise and targeted changes to a plant's genome, using molecular scissors such as CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs. Gene editing can improve the drought tolerance of crops by creating or introducing mutations, deletions, insertions, or replacements of specific DNA sequences that affect the function or regulation of genes related to water stress response. For example, some crops have been edited to knock out or knock down genes that encode for negative regulators of drought tolerance, such as transcription factors that repress the expression of protective genes. Other crops have been edited to introduce or enhance genes that encode for positive regulators of drought tolerance, such as hormones that activate the expression of adaptive genes.

4 Synthetic biology

Synthetic biology is the process of designing and constructing new biological systems or components, using engineering principles and methods such as standardization, modularization, and optimization. Synthetic biology can improve the drought tolerance of crops by creating or integrating novel or synthetic genes, pathways, circuits, or networks that confer novel or improved functions or behaviors under water stress. For example, some crops have been engineered to incorporate synthetic genes or promoters that respond to specific environmental signals or stimuli and trigger the expression of drought tolerance genes. Other crops have been engineered to integrate synthetic pathways or circuits that enhance the production or accumulation of osmolytes, antioxidants, or other protective molecules.

5 Systems biology

Systems biology is the process of studying and modeling the interactions and dynamics of biological systems or components, using computational and mathematical tools and methods such as network analysis, simulation, and optimization. Systems biology can improve the drought tolerance of crops by understanding and predicting the complex and nonlinear responses of plants to water stress at different levels of organization, from genes to phenotypes. For example, some crops have been analyzed and modeled to identify and quantify the key genes, pathways, networks, or traits that contribute to drought tolerance or susceptibility. Other crops have been simulated and optimized to design and test the optimal combinations of genes, pathways, networks, or traits that enhance drought tolerance or yield under water stress.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?